Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway

I have just read the following on a Welsh Highland Railway forum:

A story in this week's Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald (that has yet to appear online), informs us that a chap by the name of Colin Dale, from Essex, has "Secured the track between Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog" with a view to running services within the next 12 months "using a mixture of vintage diesel and steam engines".

Apparently, "as the track already exists, only minor work is needed to bring it
up to standard, unlike the massive and costly projects to renovate old railways
like the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland."

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Does anyone have any further detail on this story?

 

Has it even been officially closed? I thought it was still mothballed.

Chris

 

I'm just impressed that Mr Dale thinks he can open next year with no stock, and no stations, since I doubt that he could use Blaenau Central, Manod and Llan Ffestiniog are long gone, Maentwrog Road is a private house, and the railway doesn't even reach Trawsfynydd any more. Also, despite only being closed since 1995 or so, and fairly well maintained for at least a couple of years after that, the line appears to have succumbed to nature far quicker than, as a near example, the Cambrian line between Gobowen and Llynclys. Both are overgrown, but the Cambrian seems to be mainly grass, whereas the Traws line seems to have had several invasions of forestry!

John

 

Trawsfynydd & Blaenau railway

What's the point of trying to reopen a line on the Festiniog's doorstep. Who is going to get it into operational order ? Where are the volunteers, locos & stock coming from, as well as the new infrastructure required ? Does this guy have any money ,or is he just another dreamer ?

Bob.

 

The line itself isn't in too bad a state. All the sleepers and fixings are pretty sound, and the joints seem reasonable. The railhead on some sections in quite worn, but would probably do for a Light Railway. The main problem there would be drainage, as some areas are quite boggy now, and also there is a lot of forestry along the line, trees growing between sleepers etc, but you could still probably run a heavy diesel shunter down there with no problems, so clearing it all shouldn't be too much of an issue.

It seems like a good idea to me, why leave a reasonably good railway to rot, instead of doing it up and using it. Who are we to put a damper on someone who is trying to preserve something (if anybody here has looked closely enough, the name of the forum is National PRESERVATION). Even if he doesn't succed, it won't do any harm, and will at least show that people are interested in keeping railways together. If I didn't live so far away, I would definitley be there to help from the start.

 

Trawsfynydd & Blaenau Railway

One of our p.way experts has looked at this branch. The track is the original GWR stuff.
The branch generally needs re-sleepering & the rail is pretty worn.

Bob.

 

IIRC the track was lifted after closure and then relaid in the 1960s for power station traffic, from BF (North) through BF (South) and onto the ex-GWR formation?

Patrick

 

Anyone know who Colin Dale is?

 

A station on the Northern Line?

 

Trawsfynydd & Blaenau Railway

This story has now appeared on line - see:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nor...ydd-railway-could-be-reopened-55578-24521231/

Interesting comments from Network Rail.

There is also a very interesting website with pictures of various trains along the length of this line at:

http://www.penmorfa.com/Conwy/five.htm

Jonathan

 

Interesting that the Post article omits the 'secured' bit. NR can't just dispose of track anyway?

Patrick

 

Trawsfynydd & Blaenau Railway

For a recent photographic survey of the line see:

http://alunsphotos.fotopic.net/c1572680.html

 

Looks like Mr Dale will need a trip to the wholesalers to buy some Round-Up

 

He had better hurry up or it wont work...Then he will have to wait 'till next spring

 

I for one will wish the gentleman the very best of luck with this venture. To be honest I can see no reason why it shouldn't complement the Ffestiniog and it will go some way to provide an attraction in Blaenau which is often criticised for being a destination which has little to offer. As a new generation line it will have limited facilities to cater for the families and daytrippers that the Ffestiniog carries, so will be unlikely to make inroads into that market anyway until it has become more established. Intially it will be after people already in Blaenau or passing through, how many people start their Ffestiniog journey there as opposed to Portmadog? The southern end of the line always seems busier to me. Maybe some joint ticketing could be introduced as has been done with the 'Cambrian' and WHR Portmadog and encourage more people to start their narrow gauge journey there. Wales is short of standard gauge steam so any new scheme should be welcomed and supported and this is a very nice section of line to boot. I hope this sees more progress than a certain line on Anglesey which is crying out for steam..

 

The 'Cambrian News' has a report as well - HERE

Rather more length to this one - as well as a slight bit of confusion...

 

genuine non narrow guage of course although I think Im right in saying that the Blaenau end used to be narrow guage originally....

 

Hmm. So a local councillor thinks it's narrow gauge does he? Nice to see him so well informed about his locality.

 

Definitely non-narrow gauge now, but - yes, the section between Llan Ffestiniog and what is now 'Blaenau Central' was originally the Festiniog & Blaenau Railway built to Ffestiniog Railway gauge...

The 'confusion' also, of course, includes the comment from Mr Dale that he had reached an agreement with Network Rail - with Network Rail saying they had not entered an agreement...

I might well end-up going to the 11th September meeting... ;-)